As more time passed, the village entered a new phase. It was no longer young, and it was no longer small. It had systems that had been tested for generations. It had records that stretched back a hundred years. It had traditions that were practical, not ceremonial.
The younger generation did not see the boundary as a dramatic decision. They saw it as part of the design of the place, like roads and wells. That was intentional. The goal had never been to keep the boundary alive through fear. The goal had been to make it part of ordinary life.
Technology improved across the region. Machinery became more advanced. Communication became faster. Weather patterns could be tracked more accurately. Data could be stored and analyzed quickly.
The village adopted these tools carefully.
They used improved weather tracking to prepare for storms earlier. They used better soil analysis to refine crop rotation. They used stronger materials to reinforce buildings.
